One
of the finest trombonists to emerge from the bebop era, Kai Winding
was always to an extent overshadowed by J.J.
Johnson, although they co-led one of the most popular jazz groups
of the mid-'50s. Born in Denmark, Winding immigrated to the US with
his family when he was 12.

He
had short stints with the orchestras of Alvino Rey and Sonny Dunham
and played in a service band in the Coast Guard for three years.
Winding's first burst of fame occurred during his year with Stan
Kenton's Orchestra (1946-47) during which his phrasing influenced
and was adopted by the other trombonists, leading to a permanent
change in the Kenton sound. He also participated in some early bop
sessions, played with Tadd Dameron (1948-49) and was on one of the
Miles Davis nonet's famous recording sessions.

After
playing with the big bands of Charlie Ventura and Benny Goodman,
he formed a quintet with J.J.
Johnson (1954-56); the two trombonists (who sounded nearly identical
at the time) had occasional reunions after going their separate
ways. Winding led a four- trombone septet off and on through the
latter half of the 1950s and into the '60s, was music director for
the Playboy clubs in New York and during 1971-72 worked with the
Giants of Jazz (an all-star group with Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Stitt
and Thelonious Monk). Although he recorded frequently both as a
leader and a sideman throughout his career, most of Winding's sessions
are now available on CD.

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